Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) occurs when the antibiotic kills off the beneficial intestinal bacteria, along with the bad bacteria that it was intended to eradicate. Symptoms can begin during actual treatment or even up to four weeks after the course of antibiotics is over. However, clinical studies show that taking the probiotic Florastor, a yeast-based dietary supplement, along with the antibiotic, can control AAD by increasing the number of protective (good) micro-organisms in the intestinal tract. This yeast cannot be killed by the antibiotic.
"This is most commonly the case with broad-spectrum antibiotics that will effectively destroy the bacterial infection, but at the same time, destroy the gut's natural beneficial micro-organisms, or flora, along with it," says Patricia Raymond, M.D., noted board-certified gastroenterologist, author and assistant professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School. "Without enough 'good' microorganisms to prevent harmful bacteria from taking over the intestines, 'bad' microorganisms can thrive, resulting in AAD." Children, too, she adds, can have this side effect from taking certain antibiotics.
Taking probiotics during a course of antibiotics can reduce the incidence of AAD by up to 60 percent, according to a report in Consumer Reports on Health. A 2006 American Journal of Gastroenterology article combining 31 randomized controlled trials determined that the active ingredient in Florastor, Saccharomyces boulardii, is indeed effective in helping to prevent AAD, and is the only probiotic that is effective in helping to prevent recurrent Clostridium difficile, or "C. diff"-associated diarrhea, a severe, potentially fatal form of diarrhea. (McFarland, L.V. (2006). Meta-analysis of probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic- associated diarrhea and the treatment of Clostridium difficile disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 101, 812-822).
Dr. Raymond says that the best way to prevent these issues is to not take antibiotics unless they are truly needed.
"Antibiotics are not effective at all against viral infections, such as cold or flu, although millions of antibiotics are prescribed annually to treat such infections, mainly because patients pressure their doctors to prescribe them because they falsely believe it will help stop the illness from getting worse," says Dr. Raymond.
Florastor has been clinically tested and sold internationally for more than 50 years and is the number one selling probiotic worldwide. Previously available on a limited basis in the United States since 2003, both Florastor and the children's version, Florastor Kids, safe for children ages two months and older, will be more widely sold here in 2007. Florastor is available in most CVS stores, Walgreen's stores, A&P pharmacies and at local pharmacies nationwide. For a list of places that carry Florastor, visit http://www.florastor.com/. It can also be purchased online at http://www.newtimrx.com/florastor.html.
